Simple lighting has power beyond mere illumination. Feng Shui tells us light is a form of energy. Architectural Psychology points out that human beings are drawn to light and avoid the dark. Lighting is a powerful tool for bringing people together – if you know how to use it.

Think of the archetypal camp fire and how it invites everyone to gather ‘round. It’s in that circle we make eye contact and deepen connection. The holiday table (no matter its shape) is the place for such gathering. You can enhance this human connection by bringing light to the center of your dining table – with a pendant light, a chandelier or cluster of candles. The dim light around the edges of the room will enhance this and gather people together. Recessed ceiling lights alone cannot create this welcoming pool of light.read more

Have you ever had something in your hand and didn’t know what to do with it? Did you find yourself saying, “I’ll just put this here for now,” as you dropped it on the kitchen counter?

We’ve all done it. It’s easy to do.

What I’ve realized, from my own experience as well as from working with various clients, is that “now” turns into days…weeks…months…even years.

And there are three reasons why:

“Now” doesn’t specify a time when you will actually deal with whatever you’ve just deposited on the counter.

Putting it somewhere “just for now” doesn’t actually identify what your next step is. Do you need to find a permanent home for it? Do you need to do a follow-up action? Do you just need to trash it?

Clutter breeds. That thing on the counter will attract other things from the land of “Just For Now” and pretty quickly you’ll have a whole community of miscellaneous and homeless things on your counter for days…weeks…months…even years.

If you have a large music and/or DVD collection, consider using binders to store them instead of the plastic cases they come in. The cases take the most space and you could find a lot more space in your home by ridding youself of all the plastic. CD binders can allow you to keep the inserts from the CD’s if you wish. This is a simple and more portable way of storing CD’s and DVD’s.

Consider giving it a try, or if you already use this system, let others know what you think of it by leaving a comment.read more

I haven’t read the book yet, but I’m really excited to find a book that addresses the environmental issues that lurk behind the organization/consumption issues that so many of my clients struggle with. I’m especially looking forward to the “vision for change” that the author incorporates into the book.read more

I recently attended a button bracelet making class (yes, it is as cool as it sounds) and discovered a creative way to contain a project with small parts. Michelle Wilson of Creative Design often beads using a mat made of Vellux on top of a cookie sheet to contain her project while she is working on it. (Michelle recommends using a beige colored mat because white and black are hard on the eyes). This set-up makes it easy for her to sit with the project on her lap or on a table and to get up quickly if neededwithout the risk of ruining the project. Consider using a surface like a cookie sheet when clipping coupons too. Again, having a surface that can be moved easily avoids the risk of sudden disaster!read more

It doesn’t work. Your home is not a landfill. I understand that you don’t want to contribute to the growing landfills, but that doesn’t mean that you need to harbor garbage in your home. It’s OK to throw things away when they don’t work.

It no longer serves a useful purpose. If you don’t use it anymore, it could serve someone else much better. Sell it or donate it.

When you look at it, you feel crummy. If something has bad memories or associations, let it go! It doesn’t matter who gave it to you or how long you’ve had it. If you don’t love it, wouldn’t buy it in a shop, or it makes you unhappy when you see it, then it doesn’t need to be in your home.

It’s only taking up precious space. I understand that many of us have enough space to keep some things that we mayneed or do not exactly love, but those of us who have limited space need to be very careful that extraneous items don’t take the place of the items we do use and love.

You don’t want to clean it, dust it, pack it, move it, or insure it. If you don’t care enough to maintain it, you’ll enjoy the extra space much more once it’s gone!

The subject / presenter for this meeting will be updated and announced closer to the date. — Cancellation Policy — In case of inclement weather, the NAPO-NE Board of Directors may cancel our monthly NAPO-NE[...]

The subject / presenter for this meeting will be updated and announced closer to the date. — Cancellation Policy — In case of inclement weather, the NAPO-NE Board of Directors may cancel our monthly NAPO-NE[...]

Subject and Presentation for this meeting to be announced as date approaches. Registration and Cost NAPO-New England Members: no registration needed Visitors: Register and pay at the door. ($25) — Cancellation Policy — In case[...]

The subject / presenter for this meeting will be updated and announced closer to the date. — Cancellation Policy — In case of inclement weather, the NAPO-NE Board of Directors may cancel our monthly NAPO-NE[...]